Switch for suspended electric railways.



No. 787,856. PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

v R. PFAFFENBAGH & H. MULLER.

SWITCH FOR SUSPENDED ELEGTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPLIOAIION FILED 001129, 1904.

WITNESSES /g lNVENTDPfi;

No. 787,856. Patented April 18, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

RUDOLF PFAFFEYBACH, OF LEIPSIC, AND IlIGRhLaNN Mli'LLER, OF

, LEllSlU-GOHLIS, GERMANY.

SWITCH FOR SUSPENDED ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,856,.(iated April 18, 1905.

Original application filed January 13, 1904, Serial No. 188,876. Divided and this application filed October 29, 1904. Serial No. 230,495.

K/ l open. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig.

Be it known that we, RUooLF Pmiwnx- 2, in which the switch r-ail is shown closed. men, director, residing at 3st Pfati'endorferln Figs. 1 and 2, 11 indicates the cars; l), the strasse, Leipsic, and HERuANN MULLER, en- Karriers; c, the loads; (Z, the rails; (a, the overgineer, residing at 8 Ulanenstrasse, Leipsic head conductors, and f the current-collector. (iohlis, i'erniany, subjects of the German Em- In Figs. 2 and 3, (/l'tPl'OSOllt-S the continuous peror, have jointly invented new and useful rail, and I! the branch rail with the switchlmprovements in and Relating to Switches of rail 1). Above the track aresituated the con- Suspended Electric Railways; and we dohereductor-wires w, w", and 1 For the purpose by declare the following to be a full, clear, of clearness they are shown drawn not above and exact description of our invention, such the middle of the rails. \Vhile the conducas will enable others skilled in the art to which tors c and w are electrically connected with it appertains to make and use the same. the source of current the portion 1 of the The present invention relates to suspended conductor is insulated from the remainder electric railways wherein the cars run on rails by insulators r and An electrical connecsupported above the ground and carry the tion is made between the portions I] and the load in a suspended carrier and are driven by conductor (1 by the insulated conductors in one or more electromotors mounted on the through the electric switch I, which is se car which receive their current from a concured to the rails 11 opposite the switch-rail ductor extending along the line. 1). The electric switch I is actuated by the The present application is a division of a pin w, which is guided in a sleeve m, passing prior application filed by us January 13, 190%, through the rail and terminating in a head, Serial No. 188,876. beneath which is a plate-spring the latter In order that with suspended railways of tending constantly to open the electric switch the kind in question there shall be no liability '11, as shown in Fig. 2. The conductor (1 is of the car falling on account of misplacement thereby rendered dead, so that an electric car of the switches, safety devices are provided proceeding from If to 1] will come to rest on by the present invention which consist in the dead section r]. electrically insulating the portion of the con- \Vhen the switch-rail p is closed, as shown ductor beyond the switch-rail from the rein Fig 3, the rail p will press against the niaindcr of the conductor when the switchpin in and forcing it inward against the acrail is open, whereas by closing the switchtion of the spring will close the electric rail a contact device is actuated which conswitch r and connect the conductor (1 with nects the insulated portion with the source of the source of current. A car can then travelectricity. Consequently with this device erse the rails 11 and and pass to the track (Z. when the switch-rail is open the car is brought What we claim is to rest when on the insulated dead portion, 1. In an elevated railway on which cars are and therefore cannot fall down. Obviously suspended and driven by electromotors therethe dead portion of the conductor must be on, the combination with a main line, of a prolonged sutticiently beyond the end of the branch connection havingaswitch-rail,an elecswitch-rail in order that the car when the trical conductor along the. main line and the switch open shall not run onto it by its onbranch connection, and means for electrically ward momentum. insulating the portion of the conductor sitln the accompanying, drawings, Figure l uated along the switch-rail and the adjoining shows a horizontal portion of the track with portion of the branch connection from the which there is a branch connection. Fig. 2 remainder of the conductor by the switch-rail being opened, and for reconnecting the insulated portion with the source of electricity by is a plan of the same, showing a safety device, the branch being shown with the switch-rail the closure of the switch-rail, substantially the lever of the electric switch being, located as described and for the purpose set forth.

2-. In an elevated railway from which electrio-motor cars are suspended, the combination with a main line, of a branch line having in the path of closing movement of the switchrail; substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF PFAEFENBACH. HERMANN MULLER. Witnesses:

LEONHARDT GRoscn, RUDOLPH F RICKE. 

